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14:24pm 10th May 2005 | |
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More than three-quarters of the public believe patients who are unable to communicate should be able to receive food and water by tube if they have asked in advance, a survey has revealed. The poll of almost 1,000 people found that 77% thought patients who have made a previous request should be allowed to have food and water given to them, despite the views of doctors or their family. The research came after the case of Terri Schiavo, the US woman who died when her feeding tube was removed after a lengthy legal battle. Her husband had argued that she would not want to live in her persistent vegetative state, caused by severe brain damage, but her parents fought to keep her alive. The latest research, commissioned by a group of doctors opposed to euthanasia called First Do No Harm, also looked at the case of British man Leslie Burke, who has a degenerative brain condition. Mr Burke, from Lancaster, won a High Court ruling because he feared that his wish to go on living until he dies naturally could be overridden under current General Medical Council guidelines. His solicitor argued that the patient, not the doctor, should determine whether it was in their best interests to continue to receive artificial nutrition and hydration. But the GMC appealed against the ruling that parts of its guidance were "unlawful", with the case due to return to court on May 16. The poll found that only a third of people supported guidelines for doctors on withdrawing or withholding food and water by tube from patients who cannot speak for themselves. Dr Mary Knowles, chair of First Do No Harm, said: "The survey shows that this humane ruling has the backing of the public." |
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